Reading

Reading's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. At the same time there were changes in ethnicity.

The population reached nearly 160,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Reading increased by 8.8%, from about 143,000 to 156,000.

The addition of just under 13,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Reading was home to, on average, 28 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Rise in rate of unemployment

Census 2011 data also show a change in the employment status of many here.

The percentage of Reading residents that were unemployed increased from 2.5% in 2001 to 4.6% in 2011.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (56%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 58% in 2001. The percentage of Reading residents that were self-employed increased from 6.9% to 7.9%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Reading increased by 2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Reading, the South East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Reading

The number of people in Reading from the White ethnic groups remained close to 120,000 between the last two seasons. This represents a change from 87% to 75% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Reading from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 8,500 in 2001 to about 21,000 in 2011 (from 5.9% to 14%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from just over 5,900 to about 10,000 (from 4.1% to 6.7%).

About 6,200 people (2.4%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from about 3,400 in 2001 (4.0%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Reading decreased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Reading by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Reading

The number of people in Reading that described themselves as Hindu increased from about 1,400 in 2001 to just under 5,700 in 2011. This represents a change from 1.0% to 3.6% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 0.6% to 1.1%) and the average across England (from 1.2% to 1.6%).

The number of people in Reading that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 90,000 in 2001 to just under 78,000 in 2011 (from 63% to 50%). The number of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 31,000 to about 46,000 (from 22% to 30%).

About 11,000 people (8.7%) did not state their religion, down from about 12,000 in 2001 (7.3%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Hindu in Reading increased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Reading by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

This area saw the South East's third-largest fall in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

Across the region, only Basingstoke and Deane (from 9.8% to 8.8%) and Oxford (from 7.7% to 7.0%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

In 2011, just over 1 in 13 (7.8%) households in Reading had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 8.5% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child increased from 28% to 30%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Reading residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.5% to 3.8% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (85%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 72% in 2001. The percentage of Reading residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Reading decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Reading, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

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